Why do you want to hold the office of County Judge-Executive?
Michael Duckworth: For 35 years, Woodford County has been home. Debbie and I raised our family here, worked and worshiped here, and served alongside neighbors who care deeply about this community. Listening to people and helping solve problems have been central to my life and career. I’m running because I want our children and grandchildren to have the opportunity to build their lives here, in a county where they can afford to live, find opportunity, and enjoy the community we love. This campaign has brought me to kitchen tables in Versailles, coffee shops in Midway, farms in Nonesuch, and conversations with business owners in Millville. Wherever I go, people want clear answers about their government, confidence that their money is being spent wisely, and leaders who follow through. I hear you. That is why I have put my plan in writing, so you know where I stand and can hold me accountable. My experience as a County Extension Agent for Agriculture and a Commercial Loan Officer has prepared me for this responsibility. I have worked with families and farmers to solve problems, evaluated budgets, and weighed financial risks. I understand that decisions involving someone else’s livelihood or money deserve careful thought. As
James Kay: Serving as your Judge is the greatest honor of my professional life. I am running for you, your family, and Woodford County’s future. My service is about showing up every single day for every citizen. We believe deeply in “One Woodford” putting people ahead of politics to deliver real results. In these tough economic times, county government must step up to lighten the burden. Over the last four years, we delivered the largest property tax cut in county history, balanced budgets, lowered debt, and built strong reserves. We stood up to out-of-state corporations and banned data centers, protecting our farmland, water, and utility bills. We also made historic investments in roads, water lines, parks, emergency services, and high-speed internet without burying our children in debt. When neighbors struggle, we provided emergency housing, utility relief, and food assistance. Overdose deaths are trending down, crime is at historic lows, and we have Kentucky’s lowest unemployment rate alongside higher wages. There is more work ahead to lower taxes, protect farmland, and ensure every resident thrives. We don’t need to move left or right. We need to keep moving forward together as One Woodford.
The Fiscal Court has funded a young farmer program over the last two budget years. Do you support this? Would you expand it with additional funding or widen the qualifications to widen the scope for applicants?
Duckworth: Yes, I support the Young Farmer Program. Helping the next generation get established is essential to keeping agriculture strong in Woodford County. But success requires more than writing a check. As County Extension Agent for Agriculture, I helped establish the County Agricultural Investment Program, known as CAIP, in Woodford County. That experience taught me the value of pairing financial assistance with education, sound planning, and investments that help farms remain productive. As a Commercial Loan Officer, I have guided new farmers toward low-interest agricultural loan programs to purchase land, build farm infrastructure, and establish their operations. I have helped them understand financing options, evaluate what they can afford, and develop a path forward. For someone getting started, access to the right financing can make the difference between having a plan and putting it to work. Government is not always the answer to making farming work. Sometimes its responsibility is to get out of the way and let farmers do what they do best. We should remove unnecessary obstacles and respect farmers’ ability to make decisions about their businesses. I would bring those experiences together as Judge-Executive. Before increasing funding or widening eligibility, I would review who the current program reaches,
Kay: Yes, I strongly support our Young and New Farmer Grant program, which our Fiscal Court created as a model for Kentucky. Farming is both the economic foundation and the beating heart of Woodford County. We are establishing our county as Kentucky’s premier cattle hub by securing the UK Meats Lab and the Cattlemen’s Livestock Innovation Center. While Washington plays politics and hurts farmers with trade wars, tariffs, hemp regulation, imported beef and foreign wars, we are standing by our agricultural community, FFA, 4-H, and ag educators. Everything starts with our land. Once paved over, it is lost forever. Today, new farmers face record-high land prices and soaring costs. Our grant program delivers vital capital to help them survive and establish roots. I fully support expanding this program with additional funding as budgets allow. We should broaden eligibility to include first-generation farmers, beginning cattle producers, specialty crop growers, and multi-generational farm families transitioning operations to their children. Paired with strong partnerships through the UK Extension Office, 4-H, and FFA, we can ensure the next generation of Woodford County farmers thrives.
Midway recently adopted a Landlord-Tenant ordinance which incorporates a Kentucky statute that provides significant protections to tenants and a non-court process to resolve disputes. Would you support the Fiscal Court adopting such an ordinance?
Duckworth: I do not believe county government needs to take the lead on every issue between landlords and tenants. My starting point is to ask whether existing state laws can address the problem before adding another layer of local government. People deserve safe, habitable housing. No landlord should neglect a property or put tenants’ health and safety at risk. Property owners also deserve respect for their investment, and tenants have responsibilities they must uphold. There is a balance to strike, but more government is not automatically the answer. If Midway’s ordinance works well for its residents, that is good. However, what works for a small city may not be the right approach for Versailles, our rural communities, or Woodford County as a whole. We should evaluate the actual need rather than assume one approach fits everyone. Before supporting a county ordinance, I would ask the County Attorney to explain the protections already available under Kentucky law, where gaps exist, and what additional responsibilities the county would assume. I would also want clear answers about enforcement, dispute resolution, staffing, and costs. We must listen to landlords and tenants and consider whether new requirements could increase rents, discourage property maintenance investments, or reduce
Kay: The core issue is ensuring our neighbors have a safe, stable, and affordable place to live. As a former State Representative and attorney, I am familiar with the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA). I commend Mayor Vandegrift and the Midway City Council for tackling this issue. The best path forward for our community on URLTA is working together. If I’m re-elected, we will bring the Fiscal Court and our partners in Versailles and Midway, along with local property owners and tenants to build common-sense rules that fit our community. We must protect renters from unsafe conditions and bad landlords. We must also make sure that all of our neighbors, especially those struggling right now, can keep their homes and afford to live here. Our Fiscal Court tackled this head-on by launching Kentucky’s first-of-its-kind Affordable Housing Program, providing critical needs assistance, emergency eviction and foreclosure relief alongside dedicated legal support so no family is displaced during hard times. Furthermore, our historic partnership with Habitat for Humanity and local builders will create new, affordable single-family homes for working families. We didn’t just talk. We delivered real solutions to keep families in their homes during these tough times.